The Ministry of Marine and Fisheries Affairs (KKP) noted that seaweed exports in the first semester of 2022 amounted to USD 275 million or grew 90.13% on an annual basis with a volume of 112,910 tons. This commodity is also one of the five main export commodities that account for 8.99% of the total export value. Economist of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) Ahmad Heri Firdaus said the increase in exports of seaweed commodities was supported by the large number of derivative products produced, which attracted the interest of many countries to cultivate seaweed. He also added that it is natural that demand for seaweed continues to rise because various industries such as food and cosmetics require raw materials from these main export commodities. “The seaweed product is rich in a variety of derivative products, such as palm oil, not only for food, but also for cosmetic and pharmaceutical raw materials. Many countries are interested in developing seaweed to become a derivative product," he explained, Thursday (28/7/2022). Overall, KKP data noted that the main export destination country for fishery products was the United States with an export value of USD 1.3 billion, followed by China at USD 485 million.
Director General of Aquaculture, TB Haeru Rahayu, said that Indonesia was able to produce 4.46 million tons of seaweed during the first semester of 2022. Although it is still far from the target, which is 11.85 million tons, he is optimistic that production will increase by the end of the year. "Fish reached 8.17 tons and then 4.46 tons of seaweed, we are still quite optimistic and there is still enough time to increase production," he said at the KKP press conference, Thursday (28/7/2022). KKP continues to optimize the productivity of national seaweed by using tissue culture technology. Tebe, as he is known, also said that he had provided 37 units of seaweed nursery assistance to support productivity.
